Signaling device or horn for automobiles.



S. SCOGNAIVHLLO.

SIGNALING DEVICE 0R HORN FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

,(362 30a iore Scggzzazn i do SALVATORE SCOGNAMILLO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING DEVICE OR HORN FOB AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. at, 1915.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,313.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SALVATORE Sooenx- MILLO, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices or Horns for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal apparatus or horns for automobiles and the like, and the primary object is, to provide a device of this class preferably operated solely by mechanical devices independently of any electrical attachments or influences and readily controlled by manual power, and embodying a diaphragm vibrating means that has a variable contact position relatively to the diaphragm and also has a momentum imparted thereto by a minimized actuation of the prime operating element with material effectiveness in the production of a positive warning signal.

A further object of the invention is to utilize mechanism for vibrating a diaphragm to produce a loud warning signal having a planetary motion preferably under manual control and embodying a diaphragm actuating element which is individually rotated on a supporting axis and the said element and axis simultaneously rotated together in another direction to cause the element to have its engaging portion vary relatively to the diaphragm and vibrate the latter in different directions.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the preferred form of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The apparatus which will be presently described is an illustration of only one form of the manyforms that can be readily devised from the knowledge imparted by disclosure of this one form, and the invention is not specifically limited to the particular structures that will be hereinafter described for the purpose of demonstrating one practical embodiment of the'invention.

In the drawing: Figure l-is a longitudinal vertical section of the greater portion of a signaling device or horn embodying the features of the invention. Fig/2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 22, Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views'of parts of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification of one of the devices.

The numeral 5 designates a suitable inclosing casing having a supporting frame 6 mounted therein and provided in the present instance with a rear center bearing enlargement and opening 7 and a front annu-' lar flange 8 and threads 9. The frame 6 is hollow and therein a rotating carrier 10 is disposed. In the center bearing enlargement and opening 7 a tubular stud 11 is mounted to rotate and has a front screwthreaded end 12 and a pinion 13 on the rear end. On the front screw-threaded endof the stud 11 a ratchet wheel 14 is secured to rotate therewith, and a stub shaft 15 projects from the rear of the carrier 10 into the said stud. On the rear side of the carrier 10 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 14 a pawl 16 is mounted to engage said wheel and effect a rotation of the said carrier when the pinion 13 and stud 11 are actuated. The carrier 10 has a longitudinal opening or seat 17 formed in the center thereof and extending through the front of the. carrier, and at an intermediate point the carrier also has a surrounding flange 18 which loosely engages the annular fiange 8 of the frame 6. In the front extremity of the carrier 10 a counter-shaft 19 is mounted in suitable bearings provided "therefor, and loosely disposed on this shaft is a large wheel or diaphragm actuating device 20 which, as shown by Fig. 3, has the periphery formed with ratchet teeth. The actuating wheel or device 20 is free to rotate on the shaft 19 in a forward direction and owing to its size and weight will be given considerable momentum when the prime operating devices are given a comparatively small motion. The wheel or device 20 is prevented from having motion in a direction opposite to that desired by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 21 respectively applied to the counter-shaft 19 and wheel or actuating device 20, as shown by Figs. -1 and 3. Rotary motion is given to the wheel or device 20 by an annular gear 22 secured to the threads 9 and continually engaged by a pinion 23 on one end of the shaft 19, and by this means the teeth on the periphery of the said wheel or device 20 are constantly changed or varied as to position relatively to the portion of a diaphragm 24 engaged thereby and held in the front part of the casing 5 adjacent to the rear open end of any preferred form of resonator 25. As shown by Fig. 5, the wheel or device 20 may have the periphery provided with a plurality of cylindrical contact members or rods 26 set in sockets 27 instead of the form of teeth shown by Figs. 1 and 3.

Any form of diaphragm projections may be used, but that shown is preferred and consists of a tubular center plug 28 which is interiorly and exteriorly threaded and projects through an opening in the diaphragm 24, the inner end of the plug having a flange 29 bearing against the diaphragm, the plug being fixed to the diaphragm by a nut 30 engaging the exterior screw-threads and bearing against the front side of the diaphragm. A screw-stem 31 is inserted in and projected rearwardly through the plug 28 and has a socket 32 at its rear end in which a ball 33 is secured against movement, the outer extremity of the stem being engaged by a nut 34 to hold the same against movement. The stem 31 may be adjusted as desired to compensate for wear.

Between the rear end of the frame 6 and the back 35 of the casing a chamber 36 is formed, and therein a lever 37 is mounted and fulcrumed on the frame 6 at 38 and movably projects through a slot 39 exteriorly of the casin and has a horizontally disposed hand rip or head 40 preferably covered with a fiber cap 41. The inner end of the lever 37 has a toothed segment 42 thereon or attached thereto and held in continual engagement with the pinion 13 of the ment 42 causes the pinion to completely ro-v tate and as a consequence the carrier 10 and wheel or device "20- are similarly rotated through the medium of the ratchet wheel 14 and pawl 16. The pinion 23 being materially less in dimensions than the annular gear 22, the shaft 19 is given a very rapid rotation, and through the ratchet and pawl mechanism 21 the wheel or device 20 is given the same rapid rotation on its axis or shaft 19 simultaneously with the rotation of the carrier 10 and wheel or device 20 as a whole. The wheel or device 20 is therefore given two rotations, one being on its axis and the other with its axis, and thereby the engaging face of'the wheel or device 20 relatively to the diaphragm projection is continually changing without breaking contact therewith, and-thereby the range of vibration of' the diaphragm is increased or is distributed over a larger area of the diaphragm, with material advantages in the durability of the diaphragm and production of a loud warnbeing assembled as v ing sound or tone. The variable contact position of the periphery of the wheel or device 20 relatively to the diaphragm projection also produces a change or modification in the sound or tone emitted which essentially adds to the effectiveness of the apparatus or horn. teeth of the Wheel or device 20 engage the diaphragm perpendicularly to the latter, a certain kind of sound or tone will be produced, and when the teeth or projections of the wheel or device turn and engage the diaphragm projection at'angles to the perpendicular, other sounds or tones are produced, and these various sounds or tones are at times commingled and emitted as a combined tone and at other times the distinct tones will be heard.

What is claimed is: 1. A signaling apparatus of the class de scribed embodying a casing, a diaphragm mounted in the casing and having a projection extending therefrom, a supporting frame mounted in the casing in rear of the diaphragm, a carrier rotatably arranged within the frame and having a longitudinal seat formed therein, the carrier also provided with a rearwardly projecting stub shaft having bearing in the rear portion of the frame, gear devices cotirdinated with the said stud shaft and carrier, a shaft extending transversely across the forward portion of the carrier and having a toothed wheel thereon held in continual engagement with the projection of the diaphragm, the toothed wheel projecting into the seat of the carrier and the shaft carrying the same having a pinion on one extremity, a fixed annular gear secured to the frame and engaged by the said pinion, and a lever extending through the rear portion of the casin and provided at its inner end with a toothe segment in engagement with a part of the gear devices coordinated with the stub shaft and the frame.

-2. A signaling apparatus of the class described embodying a casing, a diaphragm fixed in the casing and provided with a projection, a frame mounted in the casing, a

carrier rotatably disposed within the frame and having a longitudinal seat formed therein, a counter-shaft mounted in the forward portion of the carrier and havin a toothed wheel thereon rotatably projecting into the seat, the said counter-shaft and toothed wheel being provided with a motion controlling ratchet and pawl mechanism and the shaft also having a pinion on one extremity thereof, a fixed annular gear with which the pinion on the counter-shaft has continual engagement, lever operated mechanism including a ratchet wheel for rotating the carrier, and a pawl connected to the carrier and engaging the ratchet wheel of the lever operated mechanism.

At the time the projections or 3. A'signaling apparatus of the class described embodymg a casing, a diaphragm mounted in'the casing and having a rearwardly extending ad ustable projection, a frame fixed'in the casing in rear of the diaphragm and open at the front, a carrier rotatably mounted in the frame and having a longitudinal seat opening throu h the front thereof, a counter-shaft mounte in the forward portion of the carrier and provided with a toothed wheel extending into the seat and continually engaging the projection of the diaphragm, the counter-shaft also having a pinion on one extremity thereof, a fixed annular gear secured to the frame and with which the pinion is continually held in mesh, and means for operating the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SALVATORE SCOGNAMILLO. Witnesses:

CHAS. S. HYER, F. B. ERNEY.

@optee of this patent my be obtained for five oente each, by addressing the commissioner of Patentu,

- Waahmmton, D. G." 

